Latch



Jan. 24, 1928.

1,656,994 J. N. STONE LATCH Filed Feb. rr. 1925 2 snmmm 1 blg. 1' r Jan. 24, 1928. 1,656,994

' J. N. STONE LATCH Filed Feb. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 lid Patented Jan. 24, 192' UNITED I STATES PATENT ()l 'FlCili JEROME NORMAN STONE, OF BUENOS AIR-ES, ARGENTINA, ASSIGNOR TO BRADBURY, STONE 8:; COMPANY, A FIR-M.

LATCH.

Application filed February 17, 1925, Serial No. 9,850, and in Argentina May 30, 1924.

This invention relates to latches and especialiy, although not exclusively, to a latch or 'lastening device for automobile and other vehicle doors, it being equally applicable to gates of otliee enclosure railings and other similar uses.

is a common experience met with by those who habitually make use of automobiles, and especially taxi cabs that at the very moment when speed is most desired in order to catch a train, meet an urgent appointment, etc, a .fEWv' moments of valuable time are lost on account of the ditliculty in opening and closing the door, since it is a detect common to the majority oi such latches that they are, or become in time, extremely di'filcult to ope ate.

The same defect is encountered in locks and lat-chei of other doors and gates, to such an extent that alter much use it becomes almost impossible for a child, an aged or a weak person to open them.

To obviate these ditliculties this invention comprises a latch which unites the qualities of simplicity and solidity, together with a notable facility of operation.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side view of a latch embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the interior mechanism of the latch;

Figure 4 is a side view of a modified construction;

Figure 5 is a section on the line BB of Figure 4; and c Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the interior mechanism of the latch shown in Figures l and 5. r

in the said figures, a is the lever by means of which ease or operation is obtained, it being mounted at one end on a pivot 6, while the other end rests on a roller 0 housed in a semicircular slot of one arm of the lever cl which is pivoted at e and the other end of which acts in the slot f of the bolt f which is normally held in the closed or looking position by the spring 9 acting directly on the bolt A spring 72, acting on one arm of the lever (Z, normally tends to move the latter to bolt releasing position, while movement of the lever 65 in the opposite direction draws back the bolt 7 from its locking position.

As will be seen by reference to the draw ings, the form of construction shown in Fig ures l, 2 and 3 is adapted for a low gate or door, and the lever a is provided with a raised portion a which projectsabove the top edge of the gate or door and is the part on which pressure exercised in order to open the latch. This form of construction is shown as embodied in a rim latch. The form shown in Figures 4:, 5 and (5 may be used on a door or a higher gate in which the lever, it takes the form of a pair of bars, one on each side or" the door or gate, and is shown in the term 01 a mortice latch.

The operation needs hardly be described; a downward pressure exerted by the hand on the lever a at its portion "farthest from its pivot Z) causes the latch 7 to be opened by the lever 15, and as soon the pressureis released the latch is returned to its closed position by the action of the springs g and it,

it is understood that while this invention is shown in the form of a latch only, a bolt operated by a key, of any usual form, may be added to it, thus trai'istorming it into a combination latch and lock.

t is equally evident that the mechanism of the latch may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a latch, the combination of a spring controlled bolt normally held in locking position, a lever arranged so that one of its arms may 'act on said bolt to withdraw it from said locking position, spring means independent of the bolt normally tending to move said lever to bolt releasing position. and a longer lever pivoted at one end,the other end being arranged to act on the first mentioned lever, to obtain thereby a leverage suflicient to facilitate opening the latch by the action of the hand on said long lever, substantially as described.

2. A latch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the long lever is provided with a protuberance on which to exert the hand pressure, substantially as described.

Signed at Buenos Aires, Argentine Republie, this 19th day of January A. D. 1925.

JEROME NORMAN STONE. 

